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Games and Sports
Agni Kai (Fire Nation)
An Agni Kai is a duel between two firebenders that takes place either over a dispute of some sort or simply for both to attempt to prove what they are capable of. The only two Agni Kai arenas ever seen are enormous, giving the fighters plenty room to manuever. An Agni Kai arena can be anything from a stadium seated building to a large field of rocks outside and in the middle of nowhere. An Agni Kai begins with a gong being struck and ends only when there is a clear victor. It isn't clear whether or not the victor is entitled to kill the loser, but the loser can certainly sustain a scar as a reminder. "Agni" is the name for the Hindu God of Fire, and "Kai" is the Japanese word for meeting.
Airball (Air Nomads)
A fun looking game that is a cross between basketball, soccer, and football, only played on giant poles. The area it's played in is roughly the size of a basket ball court, probably a little smaller. There are hundreds of wooden poles unevenly spaced rising from the ground to different heights all over the field. The only similarly the poles have is their width, which is exactly the same on every one. Each is just big enough to stand on, probably around 3 feet in diameter. The tallest of the poles are roughly between 25 and 30 feet, and the lowest appear to be less than 10. The ball is made out of wood, is hollow, and its sides have slots to descrease air resistance. To score in airball, you simply have to get the ball through the large goals; there is one of these at each end. When the ball goes through the goal, the circle in the center spins around, allowing it to pass through. To get the ball to the goal, you can either throw it directly at it, or bounce it between the poles. Although Aang and Sokka are the only ones ever seen to play this, the field is far too large to have only been for two players. Presumably, like soccer, there are goalies and offensive people and defensive etc.
Card Game (Fire Nation)
This mysterious card game looks rather like solitare, both because of the wooden pieces shapes and their placement on the board. Each card has two symbols on it, representing two of the four nations; one large symbol in the center, and a smaller one in the upper right corner. The Water card has an Air symbol, the Earth card has a Water symbol, the Fire card has an Earth symbol, and the Air card has a Fire symbol. The reason for the placement of these symbols and why the Air card has the Fire symbol, etc, is unkown, as is everything else about this game.
Elephant Koi (Earth Kingdom)
These enourmous fish are only found in the bay by Kyoshi Island. They have no objections to people riding on them (if you can manage to get on), but you have to be able to hold on tight, as they won't slow down to make it easier for you. Also, you have to be careful because if the koi gets eaten by the Unagi, you're going with it.
Gliding- (Air Nomads)
Mechanized reproductions of the Airbender's gliders help the refugees at the Northern Air Temple fly through the skies. The wingspan is longer in size and rectangular in shape as opposed to the glider's of the airbenders, this is done so that non benders can ride them. A special glider for Teo, who is handicapped, even manages to attach a chair to the bottom and still achieve flight. Some things you can do on gliders include writing in the sky and performing fancy loops. The one drawback is, as the Northern Air Temple's people cannot airbend, the pipes running all through the temple constantly need to churn out hot air or the gliders wouldn't work.
Pai Sho (All nations)
Apparently a vastly complex and intellectual game, no specific rules for Pai Sho have ever been explained. It has been seen in the temples of the Air Nomads, the ships of the Fire Nation, and the outposts of the Earth Kingdom, though it is unknown whether the water tribe plays it. It seems relatively similar to chess, only every single piece has a unique picture on it, and, presumably, a unique function. The board itself is massive and is slipt into 12 differently colored sections. The center is square, and is colored orange and red in perfect triangles. Finally, of note is that entire socities are formed around this game, one called "The White Lotus Society", which is named for the white lotus tile piece in the game. Apparently, this piece is relatively important, as it is essential to Uncle Iroh's unusual strategy.
Penguin Sledding (Water Tribe)
Only ever seen in the south pole, these animals, which have four flippers and walrus-like faces, will let you ride on them through the many slopes and icy banks of the south pole, as long as you give them a fish first.
Redemption Ritual (Earth Kingdom)
This ancient practice of the Gan Jin's involved someone carrying the "Sacred Orb" from the Great Eastern Gate to the Great Western Gate. This passage represented the rising and setting of the sun, so presumably, the journey took around one full day to complete. The Eastern Gate is located by the Gan Jin village, the Western one by the Zhang's villagea. Jin Wei, leader of the Gan Jin's, performed this ritual 100 years ago but could not complete it for some reason. The tribes are starkly different on their versions of what really happened, and a hundred year long feud began between them simply over this.
Redemption Game (Earth Kingdom)
It isn't known whether or not this is an actual game, it's probably just something Aang made up to stop the two tribes mentioned above from continuing there pointless feud. In the game, which explains "what really happened", two players try to score in an opposite goal (or gate). If you step out of the boundaries of the field, a panda referee puts you in the penalty box for two minutes (not twenty years). When the ball is put through the goal, everyone shouts "Redemption!".
Slides (Earth Kingdom)
Actually designed as a system of delivering packages in Omashu, this vast, complicated, and interjoined system of slides rising thousands of feet provided Aang and his old friend Bumi with a lot of fun. In order to ride on these slides, first you have to find yourself an empty stone box usually used for transporting various items all over Omashu. Up to three people can fit in these boxes, plus one lemur. The only rule is to make sure you don't get rammed by a box of spears right behind you.
Page Last Updated: May 1, 2008 5:04 PM
